Behold, the Vegan Angel Biscuit.

Attempting to veganize most biscuit recipes usually results in nothing more than glorified hockey pucks. This is the veganized version of my great aunt Eunice's and grandmother June's Angel biscuit recipe. Angel biscuits are called as such because they are light and heavenly, and the veganized version is no disappointment. After many years of experimentation, I have FINALLY discovered a Southern biscuit recipe that can be successfully veganized, and they are DELICIOUS!!! They are excellent right out of the oven, so I recommend keeping them on a pan in the fridge (covered in plastic wrap) if you want to make them ahead of time. They cook quickly. This recipe makes a LOT: I'd say about 25-30, depending on how big you cut them. Good luck and enjoy!

5 c. unbleached all-purpose flour
2/3 c. vegetable shortening (all vegetable, non-hydrogenated variety from Whole Foods, SPECTRUM, is great.)
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
4 tsps. baking powder
4 TBS sugar
2 packs yeast (dissolved in small amount of lukewarm water with 1/2 - 1/4 tsp sugar; let it sit for a few minutes so it starts bubbling)
2 cups "buttermilk" (make vegan buttermilk by addiing 1-2 tsp lemon juice or apple cider vinegar to plain soy milk; it will start to curdle after a few minutes and will be ready to use)

Mix dry ingredients in large bowl. Add shortening and mix until texture is like course meal. Then add "buttermilk" and yeast mixture, mixing continuously. Mix well, just until combined into a nice dough (but don't knead it). Cover bowl with towel and let rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, until doubled in bulk. Punch down, cover with a little vegetable oil and sprinkle with some flour. Place dough on a floured surface and press or roll out into a large circle and cut with a biscuit cutter. Roll it out thicker if you want thick biscuits (1/2 "). To make biscuits fluffy and tall, place them next to each other (touching) on the greased baking pan or in a biscuit pan. Bake at 450F for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown on top. Enjoy with some vegan butter!

Behold, the best vegan biscuit out there.